5 Must-Have Smoothie Ingredients, Plus Recipes

Here at SkinnyMs., we believe the healthiest smoothies are the ones you make yourself! When you get creative in the kitchen and blend your own ingredients, you know exactly what and how much of an ingredient you’re getting. The perfect smoothie uses perfectly-proportioned, perfectly-compatible ingredients that deliver amazing taste and loads of nutritional benefits.

We’ve compiled a list of smoothie ingredient essentials that will bump your smoothie up to the next level. These ingredients blend brilliantly together and supply antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. What are you waiting for? Gather these ingredients and get ready to rejoice, smoothie fans!

1. Frozen Fruit

Blended frozen fruit gives any smoothie an ice-cold kick and creamy consistency. Frozen fruits are affordable, easy to store, and last forever! Any smoothie connoisseur will tell you that frozen fruit must-haves include berries (mainly strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries), cherries, and peaches. They’re rich and tangy in taste and full of feel-good antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C.

2. Spinach

If you want a juicy-sweet, lip-smacking smoothie, the idea of adding spinach might seem nuts. But you can use scrumptious ingredients like fruit and yogurt to beautifully camouflage spinachy taste. Loaded with flavonoids, phytonutrients, and vitamins, spinach boasts a nutrient-rich profile. It’s low in calories and readily available!

3. A Nutrient-Dense Filler

Healthy fillers add to the creamy, thick consistency of your smoothie and deliver a hearty dose of nutrients. Our fillers pack in beneficial elements like healthy bacteria and filling fiber to control your cravings. Fillers like oats, plain yogurt, quinoa, and avocado blend well in a smoothie, without overwhelming the flavor. If your smoothie includes a liquid base without a creamy fruit (like a banana), fillers like these will do wonders for your smoothie’s texture. Try this refreshing Quinoa Banana Berry Smoothie that perfectly employs a quinoa filler.

5. Cinnamon

Cinnamon maximizes the aroma and flavor of your smoothie. Although tossing in a teaspoon of cinnamon might only have a subtle effect on your smoothie’s flavor, it’ll add loads of health benefits. This sugar-free way to enrich and sweeten adds antioxidants, fights bacteria, and lowers blood sugar. Cinnamon blends melodiously with ingredients like apples, pears, banana, cloves, and nutmeg.

When it comes to making smoothies, the world is your oyster. There’s an infinite number of smoothie recipes out there. Whether you decide to follow a recipe or whip up your own concoction, one thing is for sure: you can’t go wrong with these smoothie-friendly, incredibly healthy ingredients!

Ellie is a writer with an insatiable appetite for clean eating and fitness. She’s a graduate of Binghamton University with majors in English, literature, and music. When she's not writing for SkinnyMs., Ellie is likely on a long, stress-relieving run or drilling musical passages on her violin.